On February 14, 2013, one billion women and those who love them will be holding events activating women and men across 190 countries to rise up, dance, and call for an end to violence against women and girls. This violence knows no national or cultural boundaries. It is not just a women’s issue; it is a global crisis.

ONE BILLION RISING is a worldwide strike, an act of unity, demonstrating to women the commonality of their struggles and their power in numbers. It is a call to stop the culture of violence, a refusal to accept violence against women as a given. ONE BILLION RISING reveals the understanding that, until this desecration of human dignity ends, no society can prosper and life is diminished.

On February 14, at 5:30pm sharp, a local ONE BILLION RISING event will take place at the Newport Recreation Center. It will raise awareness of violence against women in an artistic celebration in dance and song. All women and men are invited to participate, to take a stand, dance, rise up, and add their voices to the Central Oregon Coast and the world saying “NO!” to violence against women.